UCLA Basketball: Rutgers Transfer Center Myles Johnson Announces Commitment to Bruins
Johnson will provide immediate interior help as the Bruins look to make a huge run in 2021-2022.
UCLA’s run to the Final Four a few weeks ago was an announcement to the world that the Bruins were ready to make their grand return to the top of the college basketball mountain. Today they cemented that run with an excellent day of recruiting.
We’ll get to the commitment of Dylan Andrews in a bit, but first we’re focusing on the immediate, as Rutgers center Myles Johnson made all the rumors official by announcing his transfer to UCLA for the upcoming season.
Myles Johnson will be an instant-impact player for the Bruins this coming season. At 6-10 and 255 pounds, he’s a much bigger body on the interior than anyone currently on the roster, and he knows how to use it - Johnson was a member of the Big Ten’s all-defensive team last season. Johnson averaged 8.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game last season, and while he makes a name for himself on the defensive end, he possesses solid finishing ability and should develop more in UCLA’s offense.
Johnson is a huge pick-up for next year, as he should slot seamlessly into the spot left by the retired Jalen Hill. He should form an impressive interior tandem with the improved Cody Riley while allowing Mac Etienne to develop more naturally. Plus, thanks to the NCAA granting extra eligibility, he will have two years to play two, which means the Bruins could have him for the next few years. This is, of course, assuming Johnson does not leave early after next season, which is a possibility should he showcase well on what should be an excellent UCLA squad.
I will also note that Johnson is an excellent student and fits the exact definition of what UCLA fans want in their athletes. Myles was an honors student at Rutgers and graduated from their solid electrical engineering undergrad program in three years while also playing basketball at a high level. Johnson’s decision came down to UCLA and Stanford, two schools with excellent graduate programs, and UCLA’s combination of basketball and academics proved to be too good of an opportunity to pass up.
This is a homecoming for Johnson, who is from Riverside and played high school basketball at Long Beach Poly. Interestingly enough, the Bruins will be bringing in another Poly alum this coming year in Peyton Watson, so I’m sure there will be a solid connection there.
Welcome to Westwood, Myles!
Go Bruins!!!
I love to see really smart kids joining our athletic program.
Cronin recruiting hot! If Mac hadn’t reclassified, then this recruiting class would’ve been top 3 if not #1. But then if he stayed in HS we might not have made the Final four too